Chicago has reportedly expressed interest in veteran outfielder Michael Conforto as it looks to add experience to its 2026 lineup.
Earlier in the offseason, White Sox GM Chris Getz made it clear that the corner outfield was one position group the club wanted to improve for 2026. He also added “mature bats” to his wish list, hoping to better support the young core with experienced protection in the lineup.
Since those comments, however, the Chicago White Sox haven’t done much to address the outfield at the big-league level. Instead, they’ve taken several high-upside swings, adding reclamation projects to the 40-man roster in the form of corner outfielders like Jarred Kelenic and Everson Pereira, among others.
Meanwhile, the team non-tendered Mike Tauchman—who, while aging, was clearly one of the more mature bats in the lineup during the 2025 season and consistently put together professional at-bats.
An addition feels like a no-brainer. The challenge has been identifying the right fit.
Now, the White Sox may have their answer.
According to a report from Jon Heyman in the New York Post, the White Sox have expressed interest in 32-year-old outfielder Michael Conforto.
It would be a classic buy-low opportunity. Conforto is coming off the worst season of his career in 2025 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, batting .199 with 12 home runs and a .637 OPS.
At his peak, Conforto was a middle-of-the-order bat capable of 30-plus home runs. He still owns a career OPS of .785. As recently as 2024, he hit 20 home runs for the San Francisco Giants with a 115 OPS+, well above league average.
My guess is that this would be a one-year deal with a short leash. If Conforto doesn’t hit over the first few months of the season, the White Sox can pivot quickly to one of the high-upside former top prospects they’ve already added to the 40-man roster...Or maybe even No. 1 prospect Braden Montgomery.
Beyond the obvious upside and recent success, Conforto brings two traits the White Sox have clearly prioritized in recent acquisitions: power and patience.
The bat speed isn’t going anywhere. His average swing speed of 74 mph in 2025 still ranked in the 77th percentile among major-league hitters. That’s natural pop.
Yes, several of his offensive metrics cratered last season. But with even modest correction, there’s reason to believe the power is still there—and that he can still be a productive bat in the right environment.
And when Getz talks about “mature” bats, this is what it looks like: a sound approach, steady patience, and a veteran presence that forces pitchers to work. Someone who sees pitches, draws walks, and gets on base at a respectable clip.
Conforto’s walk rate ranked in the 84th percentile in 2025. Even while batting .199, his on-base percentage was higher than players like Lenyn Sosa and Brooks Baldwin. That’s the value of patience—and the value of experience.
Ultimately, it’s a bet. But it’s one worth making. It doesn’t hurt to give Conforto some runway early in the season. If he finds his form, he immediately makes the lineup better—and potentially becomes a valuable trade chip at the deadline.
And it’s hard to imagine this coming with much of a financial commitment, either. Payroll shouldn’t be a factor.
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